M. E. N. D. Mommies Enduring Neonatal Death Parental Rig hts We at M.E.N.D. strive to focus on the myriad of sorting through the mail one day when my heart sank as I physical, mental and emotional issues following the noticed three bills were for my extended hospital stay death of a baby. However, we perhaps have not and c-section. I angrily threw them across the room. It addressed the “business issues” following a loss. My did not occur to me that although our baby died, and Jonathan was stillborn 20 years ago, at a time when I even with good insurance, we would still owe thousands was responsible for filing my own insurance claims. It of dollars for my extensive antepartum hospital stay, c- was truly a part-time job for those of us who endured section, Jonathan’s funeral and burial, and his headstone. health issues, resulting in numerous and regular doctor Family and friends typically do not realize these are appointments, which was accompanied with confusing matters we must deal with on top of grieving our baby, stacks of paperwork to sort through and try to drastically compounding our sorrow, frustration and understand. Additionally, I found myself regularly stress. So, how can we take care of these responsibilities needing to speak to insurance representatives asking for and understand our legal and tax rights, while we are help and clarity. From their end, they could tell I had a attempting to care for ourselves physically and mentally? baby, but nothing in their records indicated my baby First, I hope some information printed in this edition died. Therefore, every time I had a conversation with a will answer some of your questions. Secondly, appoint a well-meaning insurance employee, he or she trusted family member or friend who can research congratulated me for the birth of my baby, to which I answers for you, speak to representatives from your always sought compassion and sympathy by correcting insurance company, hospital, HR department at work, the congratulations. and even a CPA if need be. This may require you to be It can still be a nightmare, but thankfully most in the same room as your appointed person in order to doctor’s offices and hospitals are now required to file our grant permission for this person to speak on the phone in medical claims for us, somewhat easing our burdens, your behalf. Don’t be afraid to explain to the especially when we are grieving. Yet there are still representatives you need extra time and grace because questions, such as, what does the insurance policy cover your baby died. It may be difficult to reveal your loss to and what does it not cover? At what point is the baby a stranger, but I think you’ll find the explanation covered by our plan if the baby was born alive and advantageous. medical care is given? Does the policy cover funeral and Above all, understand you may have financial rights burial arrangements? Does the IRS consider our baby as you are not aware of, but it will take patience and time to a dependent for tax purposes? What about time off from figure it all out. Work on it slowly, do your best to not work? Shockingly, many companies and businesses do allow this to add to your grief, and seek help. I pray the not allow moms to take the same amount of time off Lord gives you an understanding of fine print, work she is allowed had the baby lived. Don’t they know compassionate representatives, and that He will send a mom likely needs more time off to grieve?? And, what those your way who are experts in knowing your about the daddies? Do they qualify to take advantage of entitlements. the Family Medical Leave Act or just the moms? These are just a handful of business aspects following a loss - it ♥ Rebekah Mitchell, is incredibly overwhelming. Mommy to Jonathan Daniel and Baby Mitchell A couple of weeks after Jonathan’s stillbirth, the M.E.N.D. President/Founder medical bills began trickling in. I remember casually Nota Español : El artículo de Rebekah Mitchell aparece en cada emisión de nuestro boletín para la audiencia latina. Para ver el articulo de este mes en español, por favor vea la pagina numero 15. Volume 21, Issue 4 • July/August 2015 © Copyright 2015 M.E.N.D. Page 2 M.E.N.D. M.E.N.D. is a Christian nonprofit cor- poration whose purpose is to reach out to those who have lost a child to miscarriage, How to Claim a Deceased Child on Taxes stillbirth or infant death and offer a way to share experiences and information through monthly meetings, this newsletter, and our Web site at www.mend.org. It is a tragedy to need to claim a deceased child on your tax return. The death For inquiries, subscription requests, dele- of a child is a hardship to parents, relatives and friends. It is, however, a comfort to tions, and submissions to the newsletter, know that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has made provisions in case of such contact us at a tragic time. As you gather up your forms, receipts and income for the year, you M.E.N.D. can have some peace of mind knowing that it is easy to claim a deceased child on P.O. Box 631566 Irving, TX 75063 taxes. Phone and Fax: (972) 506-9000 (Please call before faxing) Instructions E-Mail: [email protected] 1. Take the qualifying child test. The deceased child will need to have been under [email protected] www.mend.org the age of 18 at the end of the current tax year, have lived a majority of the Donations make the printing and distribu- time at the residence of the taxpayer and have had a familial relationship with tion of this newsletter possible. Your tax- the taxpayer. This includes an adopted, foster or natural child or step child, a deductible contributions are greatly appreci- sibling or step sibling, or a descendant such as a grandchild. ated and should be sent to the address listed above. If your gift is made in memory of a baby, please include that baby’s name (if 2. Meeting the above criteria for a qualifying child automatically determines named), date of birth and/or date of death, whether you can claim a deceased child on taxes. Any child that qualifies as a the parents’ names, and the name of the dependent is a child that may be claimed whether alive or deceased. benefactor. You may also include the cause of death (if known). 3. In order to claim a child whose birth and death occurred in the same tax year M.E.N.D. Board of Directors the taxpayer must have a birth certificate that proves live birth. Even if the Rebekah Mitchell Byron Mitchell, D.D.S. child was only alive for a moment, the parents may claim the child for the DaLana Barsanti entire tax year. A stillborn child may not be claimed. Brittney Fish Shannon Outen If a child was born and died in the same year and you do not have a Social Brandee Dill Marilyn Brown Security number for that child, you may attach copies of the birth and death Amber Zuckerman certificates to the return and write “died” in the area where the Social Security Cheryl Davis number normally goes in the Exemptions section of IRS Form 1040. State Coordinators/Chapter Directors M.E.N.D.—Dallas: Rebekah Mitchell M.E.N.D.—Houston: Stormy Mitchell 4. Determine how many dependents are now being claimed and move ahead to M.E.N.D.—Texarkana: Monica Davis figuring the adjusted gross income and other possible deductions. M.E.N.D.—Tulsa: Lisa Daily M.E.N.D.—SW Missouri: Kathryn Gold 5. Retain copies of the birth and death certificates with a copy of the tax return M.E.N.D.—Bryan/College Station: and other important tax documents. This does not need to be sent to the IRS Jennie Drude M.E.N.D.—Amarillo: Becky Anderson unless requested at a later date. M.E.N.D.—NW Washington: Stacy McGhee M.E.N.D.—Wichita Falls: Sarah Fukasawa Retrieved from ehow.com on June 6, 2015 M.E.N.D.—Chicagoland: Sara Hintz Advisory Board Paula Schear, Liz Walker, Calli Stanley, Norma Jordan, Tina Rusert, Courtney Frette General Counsel Stay Connected! Dennis G. Brewer, Sr., Attorney at Law In an effort to reach more families and spread awareness for M.E.N.D., we Newsletter Editor: Jennifer Harrison have expanded our social media presence by joining Twitter and adding a Co-Editors: Byron and Rebekah Mitchell M.E.N.D. Facebook page. Newsletter Volunteers: Heather Fann, Sharlene Libby, Brittney Fish and Sara Elliott Follow M.E.N.D. on Twitter @MENDinfantloss M.E.N.D. is a member of First Candle/SIDS Alliance International Stillbirth Alliance Like the M.E.N.D. Facebook page Find local chapter Facebook pages at www.mend.org M.E.N.D. Page 3 September/October Topic State law allows tax exemption for stillbirths Raising/Parenting Subsequents Deadline: July 31, 2015 Missouri is joining at least one other state in offering a tax exemption for stillbirths, after Gov. Jay Nixon signed a law allowing it starting this year. The measure will allow a one-time exemption of $1,200 from a parent’s income - November/December Topic the same amount taxpayers can claim for each dependent on tax returns.